Have you ever been to prison?

[AhhhhThatsBass]

As an inmate, that is. Just that really. I was inspired by another threat I’ve been reading this evening.
What was it like, was it hell or was it bearable? I once watched a programme about a women’s prison and I remember thinking that it didn’t seem that bad, there was a good deal of support and camaraderie there but maybe I’m being completely naive.

(Nosy Me would love to know what you did but that might be a step too far)

'Middle class mothers reveal life on the inside'

Not as an inmate, but I'm in women's prisons regularly (key holder so not accompanied and so pretty sure I'm not having the wool pulled over my eyes)
Your impression is correct OP. They're gentle and humane places, quieter than a school, the officers are kind and professional. They're pretty comfortable and safe.
I've never been to a men's Prison. They sound horrendous!

My OH is possibly going to Colchester at the end of next month and I am devastated. It’s not for anything major - that will not be gentle or kind

Only visiting as professional
Category A men's prison- much noisier than I expected, a, large numbers of prisoners escorted in group with one warder
Quite intimidating tbh
Lower categories vary - a bit like psych wards if you have any experience
Custody suites in police stations - real eye opener - lots of shouting, swearing and much more tense than prisons ime
Our local on is massive central block for a metropolitan area - sanitized calm and controlled now

Not me but my ex best friend did. She was locked up for armed robbery and went to Askham Grange which is an open prison.

She said it was ok, missed her friends and family which was the worst thing. Some other women could be bullies but she had a group of friends. Did veg gardening, after a while was allowed some weekend leave. Got some GCSEs.

@Trailed are you being sarky?

No - I'd better make sure I never do as I have severe claustrophobia.

I was quite impressed by Lord Grosvenor's daughter who passionate about prison reform and also cannot believe there are nearly 90,000 people in prison

Not really prison. I got myself arrested at a protest and spent a night in jail as a teen - and seeing as I fancied the idea of being a hardened revolutionary, I didn't call mum. It was pretty horrible and they wouldn't let you go to the loo as they were understaffed, but I made a good friend there and was starstruck at being incarcerated in the same cell as an actual hardened revolutionary.

I don't think this counts exactly, though.

BitOutOfPractice I'm not, it really is the impression I get. That the staff really care and they're calm and caring places.
My experience is limited though. I'm in regularly but never for more than a few hours.

Only as a professional. I worked as a literacy tutor in a women's prison. Lots of very sad stories, mostly.

BulletFox only 4,000 women though. They're a small percentage of the prison population and everything I've heard about men's prisons is that they're very different places.

No, though a few mates have. Never discussed it with them in much detail as I couldn't find a way to do so without being nosy or letting on that I knew where they had been (as in a couple of cases I wasn't supposed to know.)

Had a coworker who was formerly a guard on Death Row at San Quentin. Contrary to what I would have thought, she said it was very quiet and the inmates were very polite to her. She said that that duty station was her favourite as far as things being uneventful.

Not a job I'd ever want, but she told some very interesting stories.

Yes for 18 years but I was a Prison Officer!

I left in 2009 and don't miss it one bit.

MY husband did before I met him and had kids what not. He said it was calm. Quite. People just wanted to do there time and get out. He was only in for a short time so was on a wing with people only in there for like up to 2 years. So there wasn't much trouble. Although he said once there was a fight over the last jam rolly polly lol. Although it wasn't horrendous, like it's made out to be. He said he would rather not go back either way. Lol I don't blame him.

No but I am place marking as I'd be very interested to hear people's experiences.

I've been in a men's one professionally. I'd bought into the media image of it being quite cushy. It really, really wasn't.

Well, I've name changed for obvious reasons!

I did a good few years ago for 4 months. I was in because I was an idiot of the white collar kind but it was full of desperately sad stories tbh.

I personally found it awful but not because anything happened but just the environment, living in a pad etc. Most people were nice to me, gave me teabags and more milk! Oh and it was amazing what some people can cook in a kettle!

To answer your question, it was bearable but I would really not want to go back and I still can't watch any prison documentaries.

I spent eight years working in criminal justice and have quite a lot of experience of being in Class B and C establishments - male prisons mostly along with one female, although I only did legal visits at the female prison.

The impression I gained from the time I spent on the wings is that prison is a pretty dehumanising experience. It's tedious as much as anything and conversations I've had with clients confirm that.

The book, 'Orange is the New Black' by Piper Kerman is an amazing read OP (TV series based on it). She went down for money laundering.

It's about the US system but yes, she describes it as supportive and with cameraderie. She was a very stable character though and I suspect the experiences of women with more difficulties might have differed from her own.

I've name changed just for this, but I have I'm a woman and it was when I was 21. First time I'd ever done anything wrong.
There were surprisingly it of "normal" people there but also some vile druggies mainly from Bristol. It was honestly like being back at school it brought that mentality back into people.

It's not on the whole as bad actually being in there as you can do education courses, the gym and you have a tv.
But being away from the outside kills you and that is the hardest thing about it..

I spent a year working one day per week as a tutor in a women's prison. I wasn't a keyholder but I was allowed to move unaccompanied around the prison, although I had no reason to go into the accommodation blocks.

The education centre was really pleasant with Ikea furnishings and pleasant, friendly prison staff. There were definitely plenty of educational opportunities for the women and the staff were supportive. The women had lots of sad stories to tell though, some very hard lives.

When I worked in the prison I met one inmate who had been born there. She and her mum were regularly both in there together. Sad.

Oh I forgot to mention, the hardest part was my family- them visiting was so hard especially for my Mum and Dad and for me I had a young child so having to hand them back was excruciating.

I've visited Strangeways several times, it was hellish from start to finish. Security is high and you feel like a criminal yourself from the minute you put your belongings in a locker, getting body searched, sniffer dogged, finger printed every single time. Guards look at you and judge.

There were two hangings during my friend's stay, just grim beyond belief really.